Events aim to raise cash for a special wee boy

A variety of events are being held to raise money to buy a hydrotherapy pool for a seven-year-old Bearsden boy who has cerebral palsy.

When Mason Eadie was born, doctors warned his parents that he might never be able to smile.

He has severe quadriplegic cerebral palsy, which means that he uses a wheelchair, is unable to talk and is partially blind.

But the happy little boy has defied doctors and makes his parents happy every day with his huge smiles which they say “light up the room” when he comes in.

His father Jason was in the army, where he met Martin Lennox who now runs a gym in Motherwell.

The pair were in the Scots Guards together and Jason has helped Martin with many of his charity events in the past so he wanted to do something for him in return.

The campaign to raise £10,000 for a hydrotherapy pool for Mason will kick off with the revived Scottish Truck Pulling Championships - boasting an impressive line-up of 70 competitors, including some of Scotland’s strongmen stars - on May 7 at Flemington Industrial Park, in Motherwell, from 11am.

Many other events will be running throughout the year, including a sponsored walk on May 30 along the West Highland Way by two of the gym members - Ross Duncan and Brian Bunce, who is a TA reservist and has served with Jason.

There are also plans for a team of eight ex-Scots Guards to do the West Highland Way this September in a relay system in an attempt to complete it in just 24 hours.

Other fundraisers plan to do sponsored cyles and a tough mudder, while Martin’s brother Iain will be getting his chest shaved this year.

Mason has many health problems. He’s fed through a tube in his stomach as his reflux is so severe there’s a danger that liquid could get into his lungs and make him very ill.

He also suffers from chest infections and he nearly died when he was just two years old after suffering from a series of seizures.

At that time the doctors at Glasgow’s Yorkhill Children’s Hospital warned he was unlikely to pull through but amazingly he survived.

Martin said: “Mason is a regular at our events and it’s heartbreaking so see what he goes through every day.

“His body is constantly tensed up, so using a hydrotherapy pool regularly would be of huge benefit to him.”

Jason, now a train driver for Scotrail, is determined to do his best to help his little boy.

He has already completed the Glasgow Kiltwalk, several marathons and the Great Scottish Run for CHAS.

The couple were also delighted to win a £2,500 grant from the Make a Wish Foundation to buy sensory equipment for him.

He said: “It’s very humbling that so many people want to help Mason.

“A hydrotherapy pool would really improve his quality of life.”

If you’d like to take part in an event for Mason email: hostilefitness@live.co.uk